eighth shot ⊗ open november log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various things
🕒 WHEN: throughout November
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except any potential violence against lettuce

⊗ a: task - flappy veg

[Guarding flying lettuce....is certainly something Eustace never would have found himself doing, yet here he was in one of the known locations where some have landed from their migration. Whether they're technically animals or not, Eustace couldn't understand them through animal magic regardless, but he's able to at least communicate that he's there to help and not harm. They seem a bit jittery with all the poaching around.

a. updrafts. The place they landed in is mostly a clearing, but there are a few "obstacles" scattered around in the form of tall rocks and small trees. While most of the Butterfly Lettuce remain on the ground vibing, some also choose to perch on the trees to prune their leaves. However, due to their physique and unreliable drafts at this time, they end up either flopping about or plummeting to the ground. Fortunately none are too bruised, but it's hard to just sit still when nothing much is happening.]

...Hold on, let me help.

[Either by picking them or using wind magic to create some wind to help the lettuce, Eustace can give them a boost up. It's still not perfect, but it works.

Some of the younger lettuce realize they have an on demand draft maker, and Eustace can also be found creating wind streams to help the smaller Butterfly Lettuce "flap" over a mini obstacle course as they play a game while also practicing their skills. It's good practice for him as well. For anyone who might there also guarding him, they can either assist or just watch out for any stray Butterfly Lettuce that flap in the wrong direction—or help catch any that might fall from their perches.

b. poachers. Of course not everything is peaceful. Eventually poachers will arrive. If Eustace is able to sense something amiss soon enough he could send out a warning shot before they enter into the area. If not, he's fully prepared to fight and bring on the thunder, er lightning. Help keep the lettuce out of the way or assisting Eustace in fighting the poachers!]

⊗ b: cure on cloud nine

[Having managed to avoid the basilisks and already wearing gloves, Eustace is prepared to help in retrieving the mysterious Nimbus flower deep within the Forest of the Felled. Having a lot of experience in infiltrating and dealing with traps, including those out in the wild, also helps. So while traversing through a particular are, his suddenly looks up and holds his arm to stop whoever he's with.]

Careful. The branches here have been cut and the ground looks it had once been cleared away. Better to go around.

[Although there are leaves and growth all over the ground, if one looks carefully there's a small patch that looks thinner compared to the rest, indicating that at some point it had been disturbed and recovered. Most likely a pit trap, but no need to try and find out.]

⊗ c: floor is lava

[Although he had (for some reason he still can't comprehend) been granted the both the knight and noble titles, he still hasn't accepted the new grant since it seems too much of a hassle and not really his thing. But he does go out to check on the new townships being built out of curiosity...and also because of the little prank that had occurred. This had to be the most ridiculous thing he's seen yet, though he feels he thinks that every month... After hearing about it and seeing it with his own eyes, Eustace just sighs as he first notes the affected buildings.]

...Rather than play this farce, wouldn't it be easier if I just transformed into a bird and fly directly to the circles to destroy them? Or shoot them down from a higher enough point.

[His hand is already on his holster. He just has to get up to a building and aim, and he has elemental magic on his side it should be easy right??? But will he be allowed is a different matter—

If anyone manages to convince him to do it properly, they better be prepared to join in and expect a riveting platform game where nothing is stable and teamwork is key!]

⊗ d: wildcard

[Although I only picked the cure part of the basilisk questline, I'm open to the other parts! If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[starshower]

[Tifa had been compliant in helping too, helping him to remove as much of his robe as their positioning would allow, the sudden need to be closer taking over her in the moments leading up to the door clicking open, and the sound of a very shocked voice coming from behind her.

Thankfully, she had Eustace to shield her for the most part, but she still shoots up from against the arm of the couch, pulling her robe up as fast as she can with a high-pitched, startled yelp, looking like a teenage girl who'd just been caught by her parents kissing her very-secret boyfriend. Clutching the front of her robe, she looks at the woman, then to Eustace, and then back to the woman, who's still standing with her back turned to them.]

N-No, it's okay...!

[She's starting to lift Eustace's robe back up as well, albeit very poorly.]

You can come in. We were just eating—! The food, I mean!

[??????]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace slowly sits up as the maid just becomes more flustered and starts stammering nonsense before he says in a low yet sharp voice:]

Out.

[And she does not need to be told twice!! Frantically she rushes forward, almost crashing into the door before she fumbles with the knob and finally escapes. The sound of the door slamming echoes through the room before he sighs and turns away.

Well that killed his mood.]

We're leaving.

[starshower]

[Tifa can only sit right where she is for a little while longer, clutching onto her robe in horror, as if loosening her grip on it will make it disappear in an instant. The door closing doesn't do much to ease that, and only after a few beats of silence does she finally look at Eustace as he turns away, her eyes apologetic and her lips turned down into an embarrassed frown.

... Before she's swinging herself off the couch to fetch their things from the floor at the door.]

Guess it might be a little strange to go out and look around after all that, huh?

[She checks out the door's handle for a moment, searching for a lock, that she clicks when she finds it. It's so loud that it echoes through the room, masking her sigh. Well, at least there is a lock... it's too bad they didn't think to employ it.

Tifa brings his clothes back to him and drapes her own over her arm, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.]

Well, at least there are others.

[flamekthunder]

[That loud click is almost taunting, and for a moment he just stares up at her, his expression unreadable but there is a heavier feeling in the air. But in the end he reaches out to take his clothes...]

You still want to look at castles?

[...and stands, letting the robe just fall to the floor since he never bothered to fix it. And he's just going to start changing right there.]

[starshower]

[A redness shoots up into Tifa's face the moment his robe falls to the floor, which—she knows!—is silly, all things considered, but it's that she finds herself staring for a moment, her own clothes draped over her arms, before she's quickly snatching her gaze away, turning around so that she can do the same, albeit more slowly.

...]

I mean... other ones might still be fun, yeah? Maybe we can find ones bigger than this?

[flamekthunder]

[She made a mistake turning her back on him because before she can do much more, his arms are slipping around her waist from behind, his lips against her neck.]

I prefer something smaller. Preferably a room for just the two of us.

[And then rhere's a light nip of her ear, his voice low.]

Without interruptions.

[starshower]

[She had just barely started slipping her shirt on when he comes up behind her, and for a moment, her eyes dart to the door that she knows she locked, but... one can never be too sure! His voice rumbling in her ear has her leaning back against him, soft hums coming from her chest as she slides a hand up his jaw to bring his head in close...

There are footsteps and voices echoing in the halls just outside, and Tifa tries to pull herself away.]

Hmm. Then we can find something smaller, if that's what you really want. Gotta admit though, this is nice...

[And she doesn't mean the castle.

But there's something to be said about standing in the middle of a lavish room with such high ceilings, velvet and silk on every surface, and a fire roaring in the hearth that makes her think about the unthinkable...]

But this isn't the one. I get it.

[flamekthunder]

[There's just a low hum as he lingers. He initially had only meant to tease her a little, but now that he has her he finds it difficult to pull away. But he eventually does, placing a kiss on her cheek before his arms pull back and he resumes dressing himself.]

I did say we could look through a castle, however, so we can go to the next one.

But that's it.

[starshower]

Just one more.

[Her voice is heavy with meaning, and it could mean a lot of things... but she lets him slip away, Tifa doing the same, keeping her back faced to him, save for the few indulgent glances over her shoulder. She slips back into her clothes easily enough, happy to have their freshly laundered smell and warmth wrapping her up. It's only missing one last touch...

When they're all dressed, Tifa wanders over to Eustace to wrap her arms around him one more time.]

Just one more...

[And steals a kiss from him before she slips away, taking him by the hand while her other takes a handful of grapes and cheeses from the platter to take with them. Although her confidence will be short-lived—the moment they walk out of the doors to the room with their things in tow, all of the castle's servants are lined up waiting to greet them, while most—if not all—of the maids refuse to make eye-contact with Eustace. She can feel their judgement and embarrassment bearing down on her like a hot anvil on both of her shoulders, burning through her and setting a redness in her face all over again.

Her hand slips out of his and Tifa practically jogs to the front doors, thanking them for their time, and for their services, but this just wasn't the right fit for them! And thankfully, the cool air will help alleviate some of that heat that's made itself at home in her cheeks, as does the relief at seeing the carriage waiting for them.

Well... that was fun.

Time to go!]

[flamekthunder]

[It doesn't take him long to finish dressing, and his back will be to her when she puts her arms around him. He smiles a little as he turns, letting her steal that kiss as he fully intends to take it back later.

Once out the door...that warm, fuzzy atmosphere around them chills a degree, but he just ignores the looks he gets. He has no plans on staying here to begin with, so he couldn't care less what they thought of him. He does feel a little bad for Tifa, though, so he doesn't stop her when she lets go of his hand to run ahead, escaping as fast as she can like usual. If anything seeing her retreating back amuses him a little.

So he's a little slower to leave, his pace more steady and deliberate before he reaches the carriage. When asked if they would visit again, Eustace flat out declines before closing the door and the carriage departs for the next castle. This time they're able to take a proper tour through it just as Tifa wishes, but rather than look around the building, his gaze follows Tifa instead. He finds her expressions cute and a little charming at time.

And when they're finally through with that tedious outing...neither are going straight home and will instead spend the rest of the evening in the place Eustace said he wanted to be earlier: somewhere private for just the two of them without any interruptions.]